A 54-year-old Powys man who called a Welsh woman “English” has been convicted of racially aggravated harassment.
Michael Forsythe also swore and insulted Gavin and Lorna Steele at the tattoo parlour they own in Agricultural House, Newtown.
Forsythe, of Llanidloes Road, Newtown, was given 10-weeks jail, suspended for 12 months, with a supervision requirement and a six-month prohibited activity requirement, when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court yesterday. He was also ordered to pay £200 towards costs.
Miss Clare Jones, prosecuting, said Forsythe, who ran a business from the same site, went into the parlour and said he had hit their parked vehicle while manoeuvring. Mrs Steele asked for insurance details, but he became abusive.
The following day Forsythe made more insulting comments, particularly about Mrs Steele and, although she is Welsh, called her an “English bitch” and used other insults.
He also said if they parked their car there again he would damage it. As a result the police were called.
When interviewed, Forsythe said the conversations escalated into an argument, but he denied being racially abusive.
Mr Robert Hanratty, for Forsythe, said: “The insults were the more distressing aspect of the case.”
He said it was not a prolonged incident and Forsythe was not a violent person.
17 Comments
Ive been called worse !! ha ha
Good to know that our hard pressed law enforcement agencies are concentrating on issues that really matter.
What utter nonsense. The Welsh are no more racially different from the English than a person from Shropshire is to someone from Cheshire so I fail to see where the wording of racially aggravated comes into it. As for the story itself, I can only hope that there is more to this than what has simply been reported otherwise it is yet another example highlighting the misuse of our judicial processes.
How all very pathetic have they heard of turn the other cheak instead of taking up valuable court time on silly rubbish like this .
does she have a teddybear and is it called mohxxxxxxd or owain
Is this what the WORLD FAMOUS British justice has come to?
Makes me want to return. NOT!
How was it proved that the aggravated harassment was racial.. are the welsh such a high profile race that by merely making a mistake and calling one english constitues harassment and a fine… what is the country coming to
It had to happen! Still, like most English people, I’ve come to terms with the fact that we are the scum of the earth and the best thing I can do is just crawl off under a stone and die quietly. At least that way I’ll be making space for the millions of misguided souls who for reasons best known to themselves want live in this country.
Oh please!!! grow up , they want their DRAGON on our flag? pffft! i dont think so…..
yep me too richard ive been called worse, people these days are sooooo touchy lol. oh and yes im errrmm ENGLISH yipeeee!
idoit
A welshman can shout “english” at me any day!
the named above is my father
what they didn’t tell you in that story is
1. he is Irish (northern)
2. lived in Wales for 30 years
3. married to a Welsh Woman
4. worked in Europe for over 30 years
5. some of his best friends are English
he has friends from all nations (Indians, French, Spanish, Dutch, Swiss, etc, my wife is Argentinian, my brothers girlfriend is English, his brother is married to an Egyptian woman
racism blown out the window!
What a joke!! I am so annoyed my tax payers money goes towards farces like this. I can only assume that the police man (or woman, I dont want the PC brigade hunting me down) that arrested this man must wear big floppy shoes, a bright curly wig and a red nose and moonlight as a clown instead of catching real criminals.
And how much did this worthless prosecution cost us!
I have some good friends who are not English but if someone shouts abuse at them which involves their race or perceived race, be it English, Welsh, Indian, African, even French this is racist…
I want the 2 minutes of my life back that I took to read this nonsense!!
what utter rubbish, Lets stop worrying about muggers, rapists, murderers etc lets all be upset that this welsh woman was insulted, thanks for wasting my taxes